Junior Developer and Data Technician

• If you have initiative, strong PHP web development skills, excellent organisational and communication skills, and the ability to work with colleagues, volunteers and members of the public, we invite you to apply for this full-time, one-year position at the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology (FIAO), Department of Biological Sciences.
• The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting the technical development and day-to-day running of four critically important ornithological citizen science projects.
• We are looking for someone who is organised, proactive, able to work independently and as part of a team, and who shares our values of inclusivity, kindness and excellence. The position is scheduled to commence on 1 January 2027.

Requirements for the post:

• NQF6 industry-relevant qualification (such as Computer Science or Information Systems) plus a minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience, or NQF7 industry-relevant qualification plus 1 year’s relevant experience.
• Experience in developing web-based applications and related technologies.
• Demonstrated competence in client-side web development using HTML, CSS and Javascript, with a PHP and Python server-side environment.
• Experience with relational databases.
• Competent oral and written professional communications skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders.

The following will be advantageous:

• Strong skills in UI design and implementation.
• Experience with citizen science programmes and/or birdwatching.
• Python for data processing, validation and automation.
• Familiarity with GBIF, Darwin Core and biodiversity data publishing.
• Relational database design, querying, optimisation and data integrity.
• GIS tools and spatial databases, particularly QGIS.

Key responsibilities include:

• Maintain and extend APIs for submitting, retrieving, and synchronising citizen science data, in collaboration with the Chief Technical Officer.
• Support data integrity, validation, and vetting workflows.
• Develop and maintain website functionality, PHP utilities, and dynamic page elements.
• API documentation, user guides, data dictionaries and standard operating procedures.
• Maintain accurate, documented reference datasets for African biodiversity and geospatial applications, including grid-cell datasets and country/ISO reference tables.
• Coordinate with regional experts on vetting processes and observer engagement.
• Support African Bird Atlas Project administration and liaise with volunteer observers and regional coordinators.
• Resolve data-quality issues and participation challenges.
• Draft and edit project communications and user-facing content, including platform profiles, conference registration materials, and related documentation, ensuring clarity and consistency.

The 2026 cost of employment is between R336 151 and R 550 000.

Closing date:  16 November 2026